Rain fails to deter ladies from playing

MONSOON conditions did not put off a few hardy (or mad) ladies pairs who managed, despite the heavy rain, to still play a decent game of tennis although the neighbours might have thought they were playing water polo.

- DAVE AND SUE GALE

After a year off, Caroline Floccia and Stephanie D'Haussy returned to Division B and played the new pairing from Plympton of Jane Wilson and sub Jo Jackson. The tennis was good until half way through the match, when the really heavy rain started. However, everyone enjoyed themselves and Stephanie and Caroline won 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

When Jane Wilson had dried off they played again later in the week with sub Jo Jackson against Candy Lok and Mel Broadhead. Jane and Jo struggled to find a rhythm against the spin of Candy and Mel and only won after a tie-break. They managed to find more depth in the second set but in the third set Candy and Mel found a better range and with some acutely angled shots threatened a comeback. Jane and Jo hung on winning 6-5 6-2 6-3.

Ladies C saw Oonagh Glancy and Nichola Harmer beat Elizabeth Shaw and Carla Price in the rain 6-3, 6-5, 4-6.

Old hands Janet Butler and Linda Haston met league debutantes Pauline Smith and Nichola Barraclough with Janet and Linda taking the five bonus points after the set scores finished 6-4, 6-5, 3-6 and both pairs winning 15 games apiece.

Ladies Division A saw Linda Trebilcock and Hilary Picton take on Sandra Fox with sub Chiara Ho, who played well in her first ever Winter League match, but could not prevent a 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 win in favour of Hilary and Linda.